We’ve all hit that tough spot in the day when
your brain’s given everything it has to give
but you don’t want to slam back another coffee
because you actually want to sleep at night.
So here are some tips to get running back
up at full speed without the caffeine jitters.
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1. Watch a couple Cat videos
Here’s a tip you might already follow out of habit.
When you’re feeling tired, look no further
than viral cat videos. Why cat videos?
Because they’re nearly impossible to not
enjoy, and pleasure is the key here.
Research has shown that watching videos
featuring kittens and, yes, puppies too,
improves your mood and temporarily boosts your attention to detail.
Oxytocin and cortisol are both hormones
that influence our body’s physiological response to emotion.
Oxytocin can influence positive feelings
Of trust and connection, while cortisol
is a hormone linked to stress.
Like spending time with a pet in person,
watching cute cat videos increases oxytocin levels
in your brain, and decreases cortisol levels.
2. Chug a Glass of Water
Sometimes there is no better boost than a
big glass of regular old H2O.
Not drinking enough water during the day
can lead to dehydration and dehydration can lead
to fatigue, not to mention more serious symptoms
like confusion, heart palpitations, and fainting.
The adult human body is 50-65% water, and it’s
your prerogative to keep those numbers consistent.
We typically start getting thirsty when we’ve
lost 2-3% of our body’s water, but believe it
or not, it can affect you mentally and physically
when you’ve lost just one percent.
This is because water is a major component
of the plasma in our blood.
By the way, blood is pretty important
because it transports oxygen, proteins
and other nutrients your body needs.
Dehydration stresses your body, raising its
temperature and making your heart beat faster.
This is why you get fatigued when dehydrated.
So bottoms up!
3. Get Up and Dance to Your Favorite Song
If you’re a little groggy, put on your favorite tune,
get up, and dance like nobody’s looking.
And if they are looking, whatever.
You do you.
Dancing and other forms of exercise produces
feel-good endorphins in the body, which reduce
pain and help us feel happier and more energized.
Pair that with the stimulating effects of singing
along to your favorite jams and you can probably
convince your boss to throw a dance party.
Listening to your favorite songs activates
the pleasure circuit in your brain,
releasing even more feel-good neurochemicals
like dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin.
This chemical cocktail gives you a boost that can keep you nice and wide-eyed.
4. Bathe Yourself in Bright lights
If you’ve been stuck working at your desk all day and
the dance moves didn’t get you up and running again,
it might be time for a dose of bright light.
Some research has shown a direct connection
between bright lights in general and alertness.
Turning on bright lights activates neurons in
the hypothalamus that release a neurotransmitter
called hypocretin, or orexin.
This stuff helps us stay awake and alert during the day.
Getting out and taking a quick walk in the sun
might just be all you need to keep
the rest of the day running smoothly.
If these four tips don’t work for you, it’s
probably time to bite the bullet…sometimes
all there is to do is take a nap.
Thanks for watching folks,
if you’ve got any chemistry questions,
post them down in the comments,
hit the thumbs up button, and
subscribe on the way out.